Friday 19 July 2013 19.10 EDT
First published on Friday 19 July 2013 19.10 EDT

Brewvies Cinema Pub

For over a decade, Brewvies Cinema Pub has managed to loophole through Salt Lake’s peculiar liquor laws and provide quality pub fare, adult beverages and cult classics to locals as well as visitors. Order a Director’s Cut pizza and a pint of Brewvies Irish Red before heading into the movie theatre for one of the current rotating Hollywood blockbusters, or better yet, join young locals on a Monday for Film Buff Night and catch a free showing of something nostalgic. Brewvies also hosts a variety of special events, including the Salt Lake Film Festival, The Geek Show Podcast and Salty Horror Night, many of them free.•677 South 200 West, +1 801 355 5500, brewvies.com. Open daily 11am-2am, 21+ ID required

The Pioneer Memorial Museum

Photograph: Alamy

Skip the sales pitch at the crowded Temple Square and head up the street to the Pioneer Memorial Museum for a real history lesson and a close look at the odds and ends of Salt Lake’s pioneer ancestors – and some are very “odd”. Curated by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, this museum houses six floors of Victorian artefacts, from pioneer hair art, photographs and handmade chairs to a room full of carriages. The tour guides embrace the “creepy” side of Mormon history without pushing conversion pamphlets.•300 North Main Street, +1 801 532 6479, dupinternational.org. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm. Admission free

Red Butte Gardens

Photograph: Alamy

Salt Lake is known for its mountainous landscape and outdoor activities, but to see the flora and some of the fauna without breaking sweat, Red Butte Gardens is perfect. On a hillside overlooking the University of Utah campus and next door to the impressive Natural History Museum, Red Butte Gardens boasts one of the best views of the Salt Lake valley and has an array of themed gardens and picnic areas, floral exhibits and garden workshops. Summer nights are best though, as the gardens host to Sundance Institute films and an outdoor concert series that has featured the likes of Neko Case, Steely Dan and Kenny Loggins.•300 Wakara Way, +1 801 585 0556, redbuttegarden.org. Open daily, seasonal hours. Adults $10, 3-17s $6

Ken Sanders Rare Books

Ken Sanders Rare Books, SLC

This place is a literal mess of books – from floor to ceiling – you will need help from one of its friendly staff if you’re looking for something in particular. Browsing usually yields the best rewards though (and is encouraged). In addition to antique and rare books, one of Ken Sanders’ specialities is “Utah and the Mormons”, with a collection of newspapers, handbills and pamphlets from the early Mormon church. Every bookstore is an adventure, but particularly one whose motto is “creating chaos out of anarchy for a better tomorrow”.•268 South 200 East, +1 801 521 3819, kensandersbooks.com. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm

Tower Theatre

Photograph: Clayton Chase/Getty Images

Open since 1921, the Tower Theatre is the centrepiece of Salt Lake’s bustling 9th and 9th district, which is full of restaurants, boutiques and, local favourite the Coffee Garden. Buy a bag of popcorn and sit in the balcony to watch a first-run indie film, picked by the Salt Lake Film Society. The Tower’s lobby also serves as a video-rental archive, and the theatre and its sister venue, the Broadway, are both used for the Sundance film festival every winter.•900 South 876 East, +1 801 321 0310, towertheatre.com

The City Library

Photograph: Alamy

Even before you take a step inside, the City Library is one of Salt Lake’s most remarkable contemporary structures. The five-storey building is all glass on one side, overlooking a large, limestone plaza with waterfalls, fountains, pools, sculptures, shops and an amphitheatre. There’s also an art gallery on the fourth floor, the largest ‘zine collection in the country, and a variety of free community events, workshops, films and concerts. In summer you’ll often find yourself in the middle of a cultural festival between the plaza and the historic City and County Building across the street.•210 East 400 South, +1 801 524 8200, slcpl.org. Open Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 1-5pm

Urban Lounge

Urban Lounge, SLC

There’s a handful of great music venues in Salt Lake City (Kilby Court and The Shred Shed can’t be missed), but the Urban Lounge wins the popularity award for twentysomethings. Whether it’s an up-and-coming national indie-rock band or SLUG (SaltLakeUnderGround) Magazine’s Localized showcase, there is always live music to be found and heard – paired with a bottle and a shot – at the Urban Lounge. The crowd depends on the night of the week and who’s playing, but you’re sure to be entertained.•241 South 500 East, +1 801 746 0557, theurbanloungeslc.com, 21+ ID required

Randy’s Record Shop

Randy’s records and cd’s SLC

Randy’s Records (serving up tunes since 1978) is unique because … well, it has everything. Salt Lake’s indie record store ratio is high (make a stop at Raunch for punk and hardcore; The Heavy Metal Shop for … you guessed it) but Randy’s is a good place to get a taste of it all. In addition to its extensive vinyl collection – which the staff know by heart – there’s a great collection of turntables – and the staff know their stuff there, too.•157 East 900 South, +1 801 532 4413, randysrecords.com. Open Tues-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm

Gilgal Sculpture Garden

Gilgal Sculpture Garden, SLC

It doesn’t get any weirder than Gilgal – ask the locals. This “secret garden”, on a side street in the middle of town, is one of Salt Lake’s gems. Carved and curated by Mormon bishop and businessman Thomas Battersby Child Jr in the late 1940s, the garden is an arguably unsettling tribute to the man’s life and religion, featuring stone-carved sculptures and engravings portraying Biblical stories and church history. Highlights include a curious Joseph Smith Sphinx, an unflattering self-portrait by Child, a sacrificial altar and random carved body parts strewn here and there.•749 East 500 South, +1 801 582 0432, gilgalgarden.org. Open Mon-Sun 8am-8pm (Apr-Sept), 9am-5pm (Oct-Mar). Admission free

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art

The word groundbreaking may not often be used to describe art in Utah, but in the case of the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (Umoca), it fits like Andy Warhol and Campbell’s Soup. With four gallery spaces and an auditorium, Umoca exhibits work by contemporary local, national and international artists. If there is a “good” time to view art in Salt Lake City it’s the third Friday of every month for the Gallery Stroll, of which Umoca is always a part. Many of the galleries plan their opening receptions during this time, which provides a great opportunity for patrons to meet artists.•20 South West Temple, +1 801 328 4201, utahmoca.org. Open Tues-Thurs 11am-6pm, Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 11am-6pm. Admission free

Esther Meroño is managing editor of SLUG Magazine, an underground arts and culture publication and one of the city’s longest-running independent magazines